To mark 40 years of WSA/PAW conferences and 125 years of women's suffrage in Aotearoa/New Zealand, our 2018 conference aims to further promote feminist scholarship and activism. The conference will be an opportunity to advance current feminist engagements, while acknowledging and understanding the challenges of the past. We are committed to supporting many perspectives including those of Māori, Pasifika, Tauiwi, Pakeha and ethnic minority women.

This conference will provide a forum for enduring feminist concerns including gendered violence, equal pay, reproduction, race, ethnicity, sexuality and class. It will also provide an opportunity to consider contemporary perspectives that emphasise intersectionality including issues around environmental sustainability, new reproductive technologies, transgender and women's rights in work places.

This two and a half day conference is part of a longer conversation in New Zealand about women's rights and feminist activism in the community and academia.

Women's Studies Association (NZ)/Pae Akoranga Wāhine

Kia ora and welcome to the Women's Studies Association of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Our aim is to promote women's studies by encouraging feminist research and scholarship, promoting women's studies courses and events, preserving feminist heritage and sharing the work of our members through publications, events and conferences.

As a feminist organisation, our commitment is to women's studies making an impact by reducing gender-based inequalities and leading to positive changes for women.

We acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi as foundational to our work and we encourage diversity in our organisation and in women's studies.

The 2018 Women's Studies Journal Best Graduate Essay Prize

Entries are open for the 2018 Women's Studies Journal Graduate Prize for a Feminist Essay, awarded by the Women's Studies Association, and administered by the editorial collective of the Women's Studies Journal. The award will be presented to the author/s of a submitted essay that is considered by the judging panel to be the best representation of contemporary feminist scholarship.

For the 2018 prize the theme is Studying Feminism in Dangerous Times. We are open to a range of interpretations of this topic, and welcome submissions from all feminist graduate students.

Entries close on 1st August 2018, and the winning essay will be announced on 1st October 2018. The award consists of a $500 cash prize, and consideration for publication in the Women's Studies Journal.